One great American singer honors another at Ravinia

Opera lovers would feel betrayed should Stephanie Blythe decide to give up her day job to sing recitals of popular songs such as the one with which she regaled the crowd in Ravinia's Martin Theatre on Monday night. Fortunately, that's not about to happen: The celebrated mezzo-soprano is in far too great a demand in far too many theaters. But if performing vintage Americana as beautifully as she did on this occasion helps expand her following beyond the hard-core opera audience, what's the harm in that?

Here was one great American singer paying tribute to another. Blythe devoted her program to chestnuts made famous by Kate Smith, one of the most beloved and popular American singers of the last century. What Blythe offered was no impersonation, nor was it another of those idle exercises in crossover with which some opera singers curry favor with the masses. It amounted to a moving, hugely entertaining slice of American popular culture of the 1930s and '40s, a rich repertory of song that, as she pointed out, deserves preservation.

Blythe had done her homework, researching her subject's life and career so thoroughly that she was able to tie together some 16 standards from the 2,200-song Kate Smith songbook with a funny, affectionate and anecdote-filled narration. Perched on a stool, periodically swigging water from a bottle and bantering with her pianist, the sensitive and supportive Craig Terry, the singer made her recital far more than a stroll along memory lane for listeners of a certain age. She breathed vibrant new life into each and every song.

It was, of course, Smith's generous singing voice and ebullient personality that fired the nation's patriotism and optimism through a depression and world war, thanks to the enormous outreach of radio. At her death, in 1986, she left a legacy of nearly 3,000 song recordings (more than any other popular performer) and approximately 15,000 radio broadcasts. All this made her a very wealthy woman: During the first two decades of her career, she amassed some $31 million.

"Mac-and-cheese music, musical comfort food" was how Blythe described her program – but surely the dish was enriched with chunks of lobster and served with a crisp chardonnay. It took no more than Blythe trumpeting Smith's theme song, "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain," to channel her idol's sunny presence, and then it was smooth sailing all the way throughout her snappy, 75-minute program.

Blythe had no trouble adapting her big, burnished, seamless voice to suit each number, opening it full throttle for fervent renditions of "The White Cliffs of Dover" and"God Bless America"(Smith's signature patriotic anthem), scaling it down to a confiding hush for "When You Wish Upon a Star" ("my absolute favorite," Blythe told her listeners).

If Blythe is a better singer than Smith ever was, she radiates much the same sincerity, much the same knack for drawing listeners into her material through the most natural means at her disposal. The mezzo clearly believes in the enduring appeal of the numbers Smith, an American icon indeed, made famous. And through her classy delivery she made the audience believe in them too.

There were four encores, including "Red Hot Chicago," after which the crowd jumped to its feet, roaring its appreciation.

More Ravinia songfests

Ravinia has other song recitals by major artists set for the intimate Martin Theatre this month and next. Here's the schedule:

Matthias Goerne, July 16. Since his Ravinia debut in 2001, the German baritone has proved to be one of the foremost lieder singers of his generation. With former Ravinia music director Christoph Eschenbach at the piano, Goerne will perform works of Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms, including Brahms' "Four Serious Songs."

Gerald Finley, Aug. 9. The Canadian baritone has established himself as one of the most accomplished song recitalists of his generation. He will present a program of "vocal classics," accompanied by pianist Kevin Murphy, the new director of the Steans Music Institute's program for voice. Finley also will give a free master class on Aug. 10 in Bennett Gordon Hall.

Kiri Te Kanawa, Aug. 14. The beloved New Zealand-born diva is embracing retirement in slow degrees. For what could well be her Ravinia farewell, she will present a song program ranging over several centuries – from Berlioz, Massenet, Liszt and Richard Strauss to Barber, Korngold ("Marietta's Lied") and Jake Heggie (the Monologue from "Masterclass") – with Murphy at the piano. She also will give a free master class on Aug. 12.

Remembering Evelyn Lear

The Brooklyn-born soprano, who died Sunday at 86, was among the notable native-born singers who had to establish herself artistically in Europe before making a major career for herself back home.